News Article

Why we run

GREENBERG

“My roommate Jaymi Cohen has been going through something that’s so hard. Running the Boston Marathon in her honor, it’s a measure of how proud I am of her for getting through the challenges she’s faced since she was injured.”

— Alexandra Gilligan, Mass General Marathon Team “Fighting Kids’ Cancer … One Step at a Time

“The doctors and nurses who cared for my sister Jaymi Cohen were amazing. I’m running for Jaymi, but raising money for the MGH, where she was so well taken care of, made perfect sense.”

— Ilana Cohen, Mass General Marathon Team “Fighting Kids’ Cancer … One Step at a Time

“I’m proud of the job that everyone did on staff. We were all moved by those who were injured and their resilience; I’m running the marathon to honor them and their families, to acknowledge the heroic response of our staff, and to raise awareness for emergency preparedness.”

“I think the Emergency Response Fund at the MGH represents all the things that worked really well around the marathon tragedy. The team struck a chord for me because I first met the victims and their families in the immediate aftermath of the bombings. It stays with you because it is something you don’t expect to happen on a normal day in Boston.”

“I’m tremendously honored to have been selected as a member of the MGH Emergency Response Fund team. To run the Boston Marathon in honor of the victims of last year’s attacks, their families, and all those who helped save lives, is a deeply humbling experience. By doing so, we celebrate compassion, courage and determination to overcome adversity.”

“I think about it a lot when I’m running, especially the other day when everything was hurting. I think about the victims and how they were hurting more and this seems like a lot but it’s nothing compared to what they’re going through.”

This being my first marathon, I am honored to represent the MGH Emergency Response Team. As a clinical social worker, I have volunteered my time to help those who were affected by the bombings last year. Many runners were traumatized and many were unable to finish the race. The good news is that they are back running strong, confident and determined to cross the finish line this year. It is important for us to keep spreading the message of "triumph over trauma. Boston Strong and unified as one forever."

“I am running the Boston Marathon in honor of the patients I cared for after last year’s Marathon bombings. I couldn’t control what happened to them or what injuries they had, but as an occupational therapist, I wanted to help them move on, grow and get back to their everyday lives. When I get to the point where I feel like I can’t go any further, I think of the patients I treated and that’s what helps me keep going.” – Mackenzie Ewing, occupational therapist, who treated bombing victims, MGH Emergency Response Fund Team